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Quality Camera
coolpix
24-05-2010
I'm looking for a quality digital camera in the £400stg price range. Not too bothered with a long zoom as I take most of my photos at close range eg.. portrait photos etc.
I would however like to have a camera with wide angle.
I'm also looking for brilliant picture quality, user friendly, automatic mode & rechargeable lithium battery.
Biffo the Bear
24-05-2010
How about this?

4/3rds with RAW output, and 14mm is still quite wide with that size sensor.

or

this and this. The 18-55mm is wide, even on a cropped sensor, and the 50mm lens (as your portrait lens) stopped down to 2.8 will give you virtually the same quality for as a £1000 lens.

If you want a dedicated wide angle set up, then you are going to have to spend on a semi-decent camera and a good lens that's got a range starting below 18mm (either on crop or full frame).
coolpix
25-05-2010
Thanks for your reply. I already have a Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ5 & while it is giving great quality results outdoors it is indoors where the problem lies, even in automatic mode. Sometimes when I take a photo indoors the faces don't seem to be in focus & face detection is also hit & miss indoors. Otherwise I am happy with this camera. Just wondering if the first camera you recommended is worth buying as a step up especially regarding picture quality.
pocatello
26-05-2010
Go to some site like dpreview, seriously, there is little expertise on this site on this subject.
dodgygeeza
26-05-2010
If you'v got a budget of c. £400 I'd say you have two choices. EIther the Nikon D3000 or the Canon 1000D. Nothing else in that price bracket comes close for creative control and image quality. You could spend even more money on a fancy pants compact but tha just seems like paying more for less to me, assuming that you would be comfortable with a full-blown SLR.
Biffo the Bear
26-05-2010
Originally Posted by coolpix:
“Thanks for your reply. I already have a Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ5 & while it is giving great quality results outdoors it is indoors where the problem lies, even in automatic mode. Sometimes when I take a photo indoors the faces don't seem to be in focus & face detection is also hit & miss indoors. Otherwise I am happy with this camera. Just wondering if the first camera you recommended is worth buying as a step up especially regarding picture quality.”

Well, it'll certainly be a step up. The question is: are you ready to move to using a dSLR camera? In which case, many bargains can be had that will generate much quality.
coolpix
26-05-2010
What would be the best dSLR camera for £500stg with automatic mode & wide angle?
Biffo the Bear
27-05-2010
Originally Posted by coolpix:
“What would be the best dSLR camera for £500stg with automatic mode & wide angle?”

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...59&postcount=2
Darthchaffinch
28-05-2010
Read this thread re: D3000 v 1000D:
http://www.avforums.com/forums/digit...non-1000d.html

The Canon has live view (not essential), but the Nikon is a newer camera.
Biffo the Bear
29-05-2010
Originally Posted by Darthchaffinch:
“Read this thread re: D3000 v 1000D:
http://www.avforums.com/forums/digit...non-1000d.html

The Canon has live view (not essential), but the Nikon is a newer camera.”

The D3000 is a nice camera, but if I was buying 'at that level' i.e. vs the 1000D, I'd choose the 1000D purely for the better quality at high ISO.

If I want to be able to use manual mode better with bespoke metering etc. on a budget, then I'd be looking at a second hand 400 or 500D.
Darthchaffinch
29-05-2010
Originally Posted by Biffo the Bear:
“The D3000 is a nice camera, but if I was buying 'at that level' i.e. vs the 1000D, I'd choose the 1000D purely for the better quality at high ISO.

If I want to be able to use manual mode better with bespoke metering etc. on a budget, then I'd be looking at a second hand 400 or 500D.”

true, but it sounds from the op that they're going to use auto-mode.
Biffo the Bear
30-05-2010
Originally Posted by Darthchaffinch:
“true, but it sounds from the op that they're going to use auto-mode.”

1Ds Mk4 in that case
coolpix
03-06-2010
Thanks for the advice guys. I did a LOT of research of reviews & also visited cameralabs.com many times & I'm tending to sway towards the Canon EOS500D.
I think it's a bit overpriced though. Any views on this, or can anyone find a camera that would match up to this in terms of performance, quality of pictures etc?
Biffo the Bear
03-06-2010
Originally Posted by coolpix:
“Thanks for the advice guys. I did a LOT of research of reviews & also visited cameralabs.com many times & I'm tending to sway towards the Canon EOS500D.
I think it's a bit overpriced though. Any views on this, or can anyone find a camera that would match up to this in terms of performance, quality of pictures etc?”

This is the reviewing website that I always refer to:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/R...ra-Review.aspx

Of course, there are cameras that can match quality, but when you're moving into using a dslr, you're effectively buying into the system that the manufacturer is offering.

The 500D is a very good camera for functionality and customisation, better than the 400D for example, but not as good as the 5D Mk2 - it all depends on how much you're willing to pay. Remember that lenses make a massive difference as well. You'll get a better picture out of a cheaper camera with a decent lens than you will out of a super-expensive camera with a rubbish lens.

You can find the best prices for one brand new here:

http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/cat1.html

Or you can look on ebay to see if you can find one cheaper.
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